Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-03-11

of the men went home by the road, takins
the teams, aud others were to go down the
river driving the logs. 1 took a notion te
go driving logs, though I hadn't got my
rafting-legs. Perhaps you don't know
what ticklish work it is going on the logs
They are pretty ticklish footing. and slip.
perry, when they separate, and you have to
jump n good distance from one to the other
They nave a way of rolling over and giving
you n douse, which is not the most agree
able thing in the world, especially if you
have another log come along and give YOU a
bump on the head as you go down. Then,
when they get in a jam, itisnt much better.
Those great tree trunks that you have just
chopped off their roots seem to have a
grudge at you and are seeking revenge, and
act as though they would be willing to die
if they could crush you up between their
barky-rough sides. They grind together
with an unpleasant sound, and crowd over
and under, and sometimes che will shoot
up unexpectedly and stand straight as a
post. 1 used to think that Gabe was a hui
man log in a jam.
Still, l seemed to get along pretty we'll,
though I got a few raps, and had my feet
wet considerably above my knees more
than once. Irather liked the fun of it, and
was only better pleased in those days with
anything that had the spice of danger in it.
Among the men with me were Gabriel
Dessau md Kent Williams. Gabriel Was
an old driver, and always went down on
the logs, and Kent didn't want to NOPE
down with the teams.
AS We went on to the river I was with
Gabe when Kent came on. Gabe hadn't
known that he was coming, and when he
jumped along whistling 1 saw Gabe lift
his dropping face and give him a look. 1t
wac the first time 1 ever had seen him
look at the fellow, and those eyes seemed
to look him through. I couldn't quite get
the expression of his face. There was no
distortion of passion; the eyes themselves
did not even fash, but it seemed an at
t~entive, reading glance, rs if he was loving
him because Gabrielle did-or was con-
sidering some plan in his W mind, or
as though he did not quite understand the
fellow, and wanted to make him out. He
stood looking at him that way for fully
five minutes, and then turned away, with
his lips set very close together, and his
eyes with what I call q coal of fire in
them. 1t was a steady, burning light,
that had come there since he first set his
gaze on the fellow. I wished that Kent
would keep himself a little more grave.
His gayety, his loud calls, his whistling of
dance tunes, and dancing hornpipes on the
tossing logs were rather too much in con-
trast with the manner of that silent, pale
Tipped man, whose darling's heart he had
broken.
But We got along we'll enough until we
were in sight of the upper mills. just
above there is a narrows in the river; and
here We got a jam in spite of us. though
there was a freshet: or 1 might say, be-
cause there was q freshet, for We couldn't
manage the logs so we'll for the press of
water. Trying to start the logs and ave
ourselves, we couldn't use much ceremony;
and for the first time I saw Gabe and
Kent at work close together. Ken,
didn't seem to mind, but Gabe again fixed
his eyes on the fellow, and his face began
to work and color up. I saw that be was
going over the past in his mind, and re-
membering that while Kent Williams was
going down gaily to friends, he had only
desolation to go to: all that had welcomed
him in times before, lying and moldering
now in the grave. I dare say that in that
dreadful hour he called to mind all his
child's ways, her running to kiss him, her
joyful smiles and words, her loving care
for him. Any way, he stood and stared, and
did nothing, though the logs were piling up
before him. The mar ahead couldn't seem
to start them, and the river and logs push
ing, they began to rise all about Gabe and
Kent.
Kent was running out of the way ofthem
as fast as he could, when they broke up
right before him, piling one over the other,
and shooting upright. He turned to run in
another direction, and there stood Gabe in
his path. I was not far away, and l stood
with my heart in my mouth, and eagerly
watched them. I couldn't have stirred fol-
my life.
It was then I saw Gabriel Dessau smile,
and l hope I may never see such a smile
again. 1t lighted up his swarthy face and
pale lips with q cold and cruel light, and
just touched his burning eyes. Kent grew
white when he saw it., and stopped short.
There was no escape, except past Gabriel
Dessau.
"Good God! You don't mean to murde,
me?" he gasped out.
Gabriel said not a word, only stood there
with that smile on his face barring the
way. Kent gave q glance around, then So,
his mouth, and dashed forward, meaning
to pass. He wasn't quick enough. Gabe's
long pole swung around, and Gabe jumped
forward n long stride. Kent came agains,
the pole and was pushed backward with {
force that sent him headlong among the
logs. At that instant there came a crash
the logs rose like earth over an earthquake,
and I saw the poor fellow struggling in
their jaws, then he disappeared. 1 stag.
gered back, feeling sick, and only half saw
Gabe dart past me down the jam. Two o,
three others came up and I managed TO say
that Kent had gone under, then 1 went off.
1 could not stay there any longer, or stand
--l -. L. c-.-